If you’re travelling this holiday season, get to know your destination’s drink driving rules. Some countries have a legal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) limit of 0.02, or 0.08, and some destinations might even have a strict zero tolerance rule for all drivers.
Know the local BAC limit
Blood Alcohol Content, or BAC is a measure of the concentration of alcohol in a person’s blood. It is the metric most commonly used to determine a person’s level of intoxication, so you’ll find countries stating that the legal drink driving limit is 0.05%BAC or 0.02%BAC.
In some countries, the measure BrAC or breath alcohol concentration may be used instead and if you’re using a breathalyzer that reads in BAC, you’ll have to do some conversion.
BAC is expressed in grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood or %BAC, whereas BrAC is usually expressed as mg/l.
To convert BrAC to BAC, breathalysers use the golden ratio of 2100:1 based on the blood concentration that evaporates and is expelled in the lungs.
Or, just check out the tab below on BAC to BrAC conversions for a quick reference on what a certain BrAC level is in %BAC.
“I didn’t know!” or “I’m just travelling” will not suffice as an excuse if you get caught drink driving abroad. Tourists can get fined for drink driving and even lose their licenses, so being careful about your BAC level is important if you plan to drink and rent a car while abroad.
Legal drink driving limits around the world
We’ve compiled some handy resources on the legal drink driving limits around the world that you can refer to before your next holiday. Click on the tabs below to switch between the infographic table, the full list of all the countries and their recorded drink driving limits, and the BAC to BrAC conversion chart.
Bookmark this page, share it with your travel buddies, and take note of the legal BAC limits around the world so that you don’t get caught in a police cell in a foreign country instead of being out enjoying yourself with your friends and family!
This heatmap by Holt Lloyd provides a quick snapshot of the legal drink driving limits around the world, including those with zero tolerance that you should definitely take note of.
This comprehensive table of the legal BAC limits around the world from the World Health Organisation is an excellent guide for tourists.
Chart: Legal blood alcohol concentration (%BAC) limits around the world
| Countries, territories and areas | General population | Young/novice drivers | Professional/commercial drivers |
| Afghanistan | total ban | total ban | total ban |
| Albania | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Algeria | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Andorra | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Angola | 0.06% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| Antigua and Barbuda | none | none | none |
| Argentina | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.0005 |
| Armenia | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Australia | 0.05% | zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Austria | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Azerbaijan | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Bahamas | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Bahrain | . | . | . |
| Bangladesh | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Barbados | none | none | none |
| Belarus | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Belgium | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Belize | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Benin | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Bhutan | 0.08% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Bolivia (Plurinational State of) | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 0.03% | zero tolerance | 0.03% |
| Botswana | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Brazil | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Brunei Darussalam | . | . | . |
| Bulgaria | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Burkina Faso | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Burundi | none | none | none |
| Cabo Verde | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Cambodia | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Cameroon | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Canada | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Central African Republic | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Chad | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Chile | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| China | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Colombia | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Comoros | none | none | none |
| Congo | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Cook Islands | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Costa Rica | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Côte d'Ivoire | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Croatia | 0.05% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Cuba | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Cyprus | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Czechia | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Democratic People's Republic of Korea | . | . | . |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Denmark | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Djibouti | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Dominica | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Dominican Republic | 0.05% | 0.05% | Zero tolerance |
| Ecuador | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| Egypt | none | none | none |
| El Salvador | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Equatorial Guinea | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Eritrea | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Estonia | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Eswatini | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Ethiopia | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Fiji | 0.08% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Finland | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| France | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Gabon | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Gambia | none | none | none |
| Georgia | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Germany | 0.05% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Ghana | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Greece | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Grenada | none | none | none |
| Guatemala | none | none | none |
| Guinea | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Guinea-Bissau | none | none | none |
| Guyana | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Haiti | . | . | . |
| Honduras | 0.07% | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| Hungary | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Iceland | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| India | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Indonesia | none | none | none |
| Iran (Islamic Republic of) | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Iraq | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Ireland | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Israel | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Italy | 0.05% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Jamaica | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Japan | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Jordan | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Kazakhstan | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Kenya | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Kiribati | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Kuwait | . | . | . |
| Kyrgyzstan | . | . | . |
| Lao People's Democratic Republic | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Latvia | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Lebanon | 0.05% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Lesotho | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Liberia | none | none | none |
| Libya | . | . | . |
| Lithuania | 0.04% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Luxembourg | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Madagascar | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Malawi | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Malaysia | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Maldives | total ban | total ban | total ban |
| Mali | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Malta | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Marshall Islands | none | none | none |
| Mauritania | total ban | total ban | total ban |
| Mauritius | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Mexico | sub-national | sub-national | sub-national |
| Micronesia (Federated States of) | . | . | . |
| Monaco | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Mongolia | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Montenegro | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Morocco | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Mozambique | 0.06% | 0.06% | zero tolerance |
| Myanmar | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Namibia | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Nauru | . | . | . |
| Nepal | . | . | . |
| Netherlands | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| New Zealand | 0.05% | zero tolerance | 0.05% |
| Nicaragua | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Niger | none | none | none |
| Nigeria | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Niue | . | . | . |
| Norway | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Oman | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Pakistan | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Palau | 0.10% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| Panama | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Papua New Guinea | . | . | . |
| Paraguay | Zero tolerance | Zero tolerance | Zero tolerance |
| Peru | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Philippines | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Poland | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Portugal | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Qatar | . | . | . |
| Republic of Korea | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Republic of Moldova | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| North Macedonia | 0.05% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Romania | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Russian Federation | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| Rwanda | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Saint Lucia | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | none | none | none |
| Samoa | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| San Marino | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Sao Tome and Principe | none | none | none |
| Saudi Arabia | total ban | total ban | total ban |
| Senegal | none | none | none |
| Serbia | 0.03% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Seychelles | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Sierra Leone | none | none | none |
| Singapore | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Slovakia | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Slovenia | 0.05% | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Solomon Islands | . | . | . |
| Somalia | total ban | total ban | total ban |
| South Africa | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| South Sudan | none | none | none |
| Spain | 0.05% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Sri Lanka | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Sudan | total ban | total ban | total ban |
| Suriname | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Sweden | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Switzerland | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Syrian Arab Republic | none | none | none |
| Tajikistan | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Thailand | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Timor-Leste | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Togo | none | none | none |
| Tonga | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Tunisia | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Türkiye | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Turkmenistan | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Tuvalu | . | . | . |
| Uganda | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Ukraine | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| United Arab Emirates | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland | subnational | subnational | subnational |
| United Republic of Tanzania | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| United States of America | 0.08% | sub-national | 0.04% |
| Uruguay | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Uzbekistan | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Vanuatu | . | . | . |
| Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Viet Nam | zero tolerance | zero tolerance | zero tolerance |
| Yemen | total ban | total ban | total ban |
| Zambia | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Zimbabwe | 0.08% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
Source: World Health Organisation (WHO). Last updated 26/10/2018
Convert BAC to BrAC correctly
Depending on the breathalyser that you use and the country you're in, you might need to refer to BAC or BrAC units when ensuring you're not breaking the local drink driving laws. Refer to the chart below to make sure you're reading alcohol test results correctly:
| %BAC | mg/l (BRAC) | µg/l | mg/100ml | ‰(mg/ml)/permille |
| 0.01 | 0.05 | 50 | 10 | 0.10 |
| 0.02 | 0.10 | 100 | 20 | 0.20 |
| 0.04 | 0.20 | 200 | 40 | 0.40 |
| 0.05 | 0.25 | 250 | 50 | 0.50 |
| 0.06 | 0.30 | 300 | 60 | 0.60 |
| 0.08 | 0.40 | 400 | 80 | 0.80 |
| 0.10 | 0.50 | 500 | 100 | 1.00 |
| 0.12 | 0.60 | 600 | 120 | 1.20 |
| 0.14 | 0.70 | 700 | 140 | 1.40 |
| 0.16 | 0.80 | 800 | 160 | 1.60 |
| 0.18 | 0.90 | 900 | 180 | 1.80 |
| 0.20 | 1.00 | 1000 | 200 | 2.00 |
Before you travel, remember that laws are always changing, and these legal BAC limits might have been updated since this post.
Legal limits can also vary depending on age, state, province, etc. and different metrics are used to determine BAC, such as breathalyzer, blood test or urinalysis.
Therefore these legal limits for operation of a vehicle are not exhaustive, and potentially incorrect.
Be aware of other driving laws
Always check the rules in your country of travel if you plan to drive a vehicle.
In France, for example, it was enforced in 2012 that drivers of all motor vehicles and motorcycles must carry a breathalyser.
Even if you don’t plan to drink while you’re travelling, checking other rules such as prohibitions on using mobile or GPS devices while driving, seatbelt regulations, seat requirements for children in the car, and even eating or drinking in the car, is important so that you don’t cop a heavy fine while travelling.
For example, Barrington Freight highlighted some peculiar road rules you might find on one of your travels:
- In Cyprus, eating or drinking anything (even water!) while driving is illegal
- On the other hand, in Costa Rica, it is legal to drink and drive, but not to drive drunk
- In Russia, you’ll be fined for driving a dirty car
- In Sweden, it is illegal to drive without headlights, even in daylight
- In Japan, you’ll be fined if you splash a pedestrian with rainwater while passing by
- In Singapore, it’s against the law for a driver to come within 50 metres of a pedestrian
- In Spain, you have to carry an extra set of glasses in your car at all times, even if you’re already wearing a pair!
- In Japan as well, sober passengers in the car with a drunk driver can be punished under the law
If you do plan to drink while abroad, it’s a good idea to bring along your breathalyser so you can check your BAC, and also ensure that it is calibrated before you go.
Browse our range of personal breathalysers that would be perfect for travelling thanks to their lightweight and compact size!
No matter where you’re going, remember to be safe and if you plan to drive, don’t drink.
